Baen Books has officially announced its ebooks will be available through the Kindle Store on Amazon beginning late this month, a move recently predicted by an industry blogger.
The full press release follows the jump.
Baen Ebooks Kindles Relationship with Amazon
Best-selling Baen Authors David Weber, John Ringo, Lois McMaster Bujold
Available on Amazon.com for First Time in Ebook Format
RIVERDALE, NEW YORK— Ebook pioneer Baen Books is making its ebooks available in the Kindle Store on Amazon for the first time beginning in mid to late December 2012. Science fiction and fantasy publisher Baen Books has sold its own ebooks for over fifteen years at Baen’s retail site, Baenebooks.com, where ebooks have always been downloadable totally free of digital rights restrictions. They will also be DRM-free in the Kindle Store. The move to third party distribution is new territory for Baen, which has built a name for itself in the ebook arena with an innovative e-Advanced Reading Copy program and limited time monthly discount bundles. These programs will continue, according to Toni Weisskopf, Baen’s publisher.
“Now that we’re selling on Amazon, it will be easier than ever to download your favorite Weber, Ringo, or Bujold ebook to your Kindle or free Kindle reading app,” says Weisskopf. “But you can be sure we will always maintain our famous ebook pioneering spirit and customer-first orientation.”
Baen’s well-known monthly discount bundle program, previously known as Webscriptions, and its eARCs—advanced copies of upcoming titles in “galley” form—will still be available exclusively at Baenebooks.com, according to Weisskopf. “As part of the change, we will also be raising ebook royalties to our authors by 25 percent so that they not only get the benefit of the expanded audience but a larger cut, too.”
Baen is known for its New York Times bestselling science fiction and fantasy, including David Weber’s Honor Harrington series, Eric Flint’s Ring of Fire alternate histories, Larry Correia’s Monster Hunter International urban fantasies, and Lois McMaster Bujold’s Vorkosigan Saga, Baen’s most recent entry on the bestsellers lists. Baen’s paper titles are distributed by Simon & Schuster.
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I’m glad that Baen finally did this. I’ve been buying books only on Kindle for the last two years and Larry Correia’s Monster Hunters and David Webb’s series were the only exception to that rule. You can expect more purchases from me.
Actually, it’s AMAZON who’s finally doing it. Baen was trying to get their eBooks into the hands of third party sellers as early 2006 (I know, because I was part of the effort). It’s taken this long to get Amazon to agree to sell eBooks the way Baen insists they be sold: no DRM, low prices, the Baen Monthly Bundles remain.
Meanwhile, talks are ongoing, as Ms. Weiskopf aims to get other “etailers” on board …
Thanks–good to get the feedback!–Toni
I wondered for a long time what was up with Baen and Amazon. They seemed like a natural fit. I guess the DRM must have been the deal-killer at first, then inertia after that. Baen has an effective ebook selling lash-up, but I rather like one-stop shopping at Amazon.
Can I get copies of David Drake’s original cuneiform drafts?
Only problem is it look like Baen website listed ebooks also went up to Amazon prices so it was a price increase for the non Kindle users.
Never underestimate the power of market equilibrium. Prices will adjust to where the market demands. I recommend buying an eReader. I have a Kindle but it doesn’t corner the market anymore. I find that I read more books with an eReader. I’ve borrowed some books that I’ve later bought on Kindle. It prevents buying a sour book.